Judges 20:21

Judges 20:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
• New International Version (NIV)The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.

Context of Judges 20:21

19The next morning the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah. 20And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took up their battle positions at Gibeah. And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day. 22But the Israelite army took courage and again took their battle positions in the same place where they had arrayed themselves on the first day. 23They went up and wept before the LORD until evening, inquiring of Him, “Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites?” And the LORD answered, “Go up against them.”

Judges 20:21 word by word

וַיֵּצְא֥וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן מִן־הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא שְׁנַ֨יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָֽרְצָה׃Read the interlinear

• And the Benjamitesבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• And the Benjamitesבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• came outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• ofמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• Gibeahגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · GibeahH1390
• and cut downשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
• 22,000שְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• 22,000עֶשְׂרִים‛eώrîym · twentyH6242
• 22,000אֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
• Israelitesאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• on the battlefieldאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• thatהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for Judges 20:21

• Genesis 49:27Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”
• Hosea 10:9Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?
• Deuteronomy 23:9When you are encamped against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every wicked thing.
• 2 Chronicles 28:10And now you intend to reduce to slavery the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem. But are you not also guilty before the LORD your God?
• Psalms 33:16No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
• Psalms 73:18Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
• Psalms 77:19Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, but Your footprints were not to be found.
• Ecclesiastes 9:1So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.
• Jeremiah 12:1Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Commentaries on Judges 20:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Destroyed down to the ground - twenty-two thousand men - That is, so many were left dead on the field of battle.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Gibeah, being on a hill, was difficult of access to an attacking army, and gave great advantage to the defenders, who fought from higher ground, and probably defended a narrow pass, while their companions on the walls could gall the assailants with their slingstones.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21The three battles occurred near the city. Despite having more troops and seeking guidance from the Lord, the Israelites were defeated by the defenders on the first day.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2818-28. the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God--This consultation at Shiloh was right. But they ought to have done it at the commencement of their proceedings. Instead of this, all their plans were formed, and never doubting, it would seem, that the war was just and inevitable, the only subject of their inquiry related to the precedency of the tribes--a point which it is likely was discussed in the assembly. Had they asked counsel of…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 20:21

• Vows

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Gibeah
• That Day
• Congregation
• Fetch
• Glean
• Trust
• Wickedness
• Wolf
• Archery

Commentaries on Judges 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary